With 18,950 miles of coastline spread over 54 countries, Africa has some of the best beaches in the world.
With 3,000 miles of shoreline, Madagascar boasts the longest coastline on the continent. It is home to hundreds of gorgeous beaches that are frequently very remote, as well as offshore islands like île Saint-Marie, where life goes slowly, and the scenery is breathtaking.
You can’t miss Cape Town’s Camps Bay for its sheer wow factor. South Africa and Mozambique boast the third and fourth longest coasts on the African continent, respectively. They also feature a wealth of gorgeous beaches with amazing scenery.
Hundreds of offshore islands, such as the Bazaruto Archipelago, where you may enjoy the warm, clear turquoise sea, powdered white beaches, and a relaxed atmosphere, are also found in Mozambique. Further north in Kenya and Tanzania, some of the nicest beaches are also found in island paradises like Zanzibar in Tanzania and Lamu Island in Kenya, which are further away from the mainland.
It’s challenging to select the top beaches because there are so many gorgeous stretches of sand spanning across several nations. However, we believe the ones mentioned here are the most captivating on the African continent.
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1. Bazaruto Island, Mozambique, South Africa
Bazaruto Island, located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mozambique, is enclosed by the Bazaruto Archipelago Marine Park and is home to some of the most breathtaking beaches we’ve ever seen. The warm, turquoise-blue water creates a picture-perfect scene of paradise, white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, and towering dunes.
The coral reefs in Bazaruto are fantastic for snorkeling and are a part of a wider archipelago renowned for its incredible diving opportunities.
You may travel to the island by boat or small plane, and there are various lodging options, from inexpensive guesthouses to the wealthy &Beyond Benguerra on a neighboring island. The resort offers luxurious, thatched-roof huts of various sizes for guests to stay in, making it ideal for honeymooning couples and families traveling with young children.
2. Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town, South Africa
Camps Bay Beach, one of South Africa’s most popular beaches, is roughly a 10-minute drive from downtown Cape Town and offers views of Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostle peaks. Sunbathing on the white sand beach is a popular local activity even though the water is too cold for the ordinary swimmer to handle.
This beach quickly fills up during the summer weekends with people coming to relax, play beach volleyball, and hang out—families, tourists, couples, and groups of friends. If you feel too hot, swim briefly in the Atlantic Ocean’s turquoise and emerald-striped waves. Despite the good tropical appearance, it’s normal to be surprised by the chilliness. The current in this area is directly from Antarctica.
South Beach Camps Bay is our preferred hotel on this beach. The boutique hotel offers lodging in Miami-inspired studios with white-on-white decor, full kitchens, and private balconies from which you can observe the spectacular nightly sunsets. The hotel is decorated with original modern South African art.
A 30-minute journey from Cape Town can take you to several top beaches, including Camps Bay. A steep flight of stairs descends from the main road to the nearby Clifton Beaches, which are equally well-liked and located at the bottom of four wind-sheltered bays.
3. Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar Island, Tanzania
It is a magical experience to travel to Zanzibar Island, which is off the coast of Tanzania. Zanzibar is a culturally diverse island with beautiful beaches, notably Nungwi. Zanzibar is one of the most picturesque destinations to visit in Africa, with its wooden dhows cruising the crystal-clear turquoise lake and its bustling bazaars in Stone Town, the Swahili coastal commerce hub.
At the island’s northernmost point, Nungwi Beach is a stunning white sand beach where palm trees meet the emerald ocean. Although it was formerly only a little fishing community, it is now a well-liked holiday spot. Offshore, there are fantastic snorkeling and diving spots you can try.
4. Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
The Seychelles Islands, situated amid the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Madagascar, have long been a favorite getaway for the affluent and famous. There are hundreds of magnificent beaches strewn throughout the archipelago, but Anse Source d’Argent on the island of La Digue is the most magnificent beach.
The jungle tumbles into massive granite boulders across a snow-white beach and a sea that appears to be unreal. Offshore from the beach, there is also decent snorkeling. There are more stunning beaches with a more private and exclusive vibe near resorts on the islands of Desroches, Denis, and Fregate. The finest months to visit Seychelles are April and May, as well as October and November, when the skies are usually clear and beautiful.
5. Naama Bay, Egypt, South Africa
Naama Bay is the central location for Sharm el-Sheikh, the top beach destination in Egypt. The Gulf of Aqaba’s crystal-clear, tranquil, blue seas meet the white-sand beach here, and in the distance, you can make out Saudi Arabia’s rugged shoreline.
Naama Bay fills up in the winter as Europeans come here to escape the chilly weather back home. There are dives for divers of all experience levels, including beginners, among the coral reefs surrounding Ras Mohammed National Park in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh. Excellent snorkeling is available nearby as well.
Around this beach are many places to stay, including Movenpick Sharm El Sheikh, a sizable, up-to-date resort that overlooks the bay from its elevation atop a cliff. Oonas Dive Club, where you may also learn to scuba dive, is a nice mid-range choice.
6. ÃŽle Sainte-Marie, Madagascar
Madagascar is one of Africa’s most distinctive nations since it is yet unexplored. The landscape is amazing and is home to species of flora and animals that are unique to our planet. ÃŽle Sainte-Marie, one of Madagascar’s best beach vacation destinations, is located right off the country’s eastern coast.
The island is a tropical dream with year-round sunshine and beautiful, porcelain-white sand beaches bordered by swaying palm trees and backed by crystal-clear blue water. All year long, there is beautiful weather with clear, sunny skies. You may view humpback whales off the shore between July and September, and there is fantastic diving in pristine coral gardens.
7. Shela Beach, Lamu Island, Kenya, South Africa
Visit Lamu Island, located off the coast of Kenya’s port city of Mombasa, for stunning turquoise and aquamarine waters, white-sand beaches, palm palms, and fantastic snorkeling and diving. Beautiful Shela Beach is located in the laid-back community of Shela Village. Here, time flows slowly, and you may spend hours gazing at the white-sailed dhows sailing by on the Indian Ocean.
Explore Lamu Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Kenya’s oldest communities with a 700-year history, for a taste of the local culture. Spend some time exploring the confined spaces. You may also arrange an island-hopping excursion in a traditional dhow, carrying you throughout the archipelago and showing you to hidden beaches
8. Agadir, Morocco
The most well-known beach in the world is that of Agadir, located on Morocco’s southern Atlantic coast. European visitors who come here in the winter to escape the cold in their homelands are particularly fond of the family-friendly beach and the resort town that lies beyond it.
Several distinct portions of the beach, including two exclusive ones called Palm Beach and Sunset Beach, are only accessible to visitors of the resorts.
If you’re taking a family vacation, consider staying at the Iberostar Founty Beach, which has many family-friendly activities and is situated on a lovely stretch of sand.
9. Coffee Bay, South Africa
Coffee Bay is yet another magnificent beach in South Africa. It is situated on the wild Wild Coast, which stretches along the nation’s Indian Ocean coastline in the Eastern Cape region. A broad stretch of yellow sand and the azure seas of the Indian Ocean meet the lush hills and rocks here.
Although some excellent surf breaks nearby and the sea can be turbulent and choppy, swimming is not recommended. Coffee Bay is still the best beach for taking long walks along because it has a moody, natural beauty that is hard to match. Few backpackers and guesthouses are in the town, which retains a distant atmosphere that many visitors will find appealing.
There is a rock in the seat at the mouth of the Mpako River called Hole In The Wall, about eight kilometers from Coffee Bay. When water rushes through it, it produces a stunning display of force.
10. Bom Bom PrÃncipe Island
Bom Bom beach is located on the smaller of the two islands, PrÃncipe, which is part of the island nation of São Tomé and PrÃncipe and located in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa. The Bom Bom Island Resort, an eco-friendly lodging choice on a small islet connected to the mainland by a long walkway, has a beach here that is situated on its northern shore. There is a restaurant on-site, and lodging is available in beachside cottages.
This lovely beach is an excellent option for those who enjoy the outdoors, especially birdwatchers. Sea turtles that are nesting nearby can also be viewed. Other popular tourist activities include deep sea fishing, whale viewing, and snorkeling. The most significant time to travel to this distant location is between June and October when it’s dry.
11. Trou-aux-Biches, Mauritius, South Africa
Along with Seychelles, Mauritius is another collection of islands in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Madagascar. Mauritius, which is slightly more accessible financially than Seychelles, is also home to many white-sand beaches set against a stunning blue sea.
On the main island, next to the small town of the same name, sits Trou-aux-Biches, one of the best beaches in the country. The beach here is a mile-long stretch of beautiful white sand. Here, the ocean is quiet and excellent for swimming. There are chances for everything from jet skiing to kayaking if you want to get out on the water in a watercraft.
Near this beach, there are several hotels in various price ranges, including options for families and eateries serving local and international cuisine. The dry seasons, April and May and between September and December, are the ideal months to visit Mauritius.
12. Skeleton Coast, Namibia, South Africa
The water is cold, and the skies are frequently shrouded in mist, so you won’t want to swim or sunbathe here. Namibia’s Skeleton Coast beaches are among the most mesmerizingly beautiful places on earth.
The area where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Namib Desert’s dunes is sparsely populated and is located between the Swakop and Kunene Rivers, north of the town of Swakopmund.
The name refers to the many ships discovered on the beach after running aground in the choppy, shallow waters. Seabirds abound close to the wrecks, which is great if you enjoy bird watching. A sizable colony of seals resides in the area as well.
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